525 episodes
Working Slate Podcasts
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- Business
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4.2 • 379 Ratings
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Hosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.
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How Fact-Checking Can Improve Your Fiction
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to novelist Julia Hannafin and ecologist Adam Rosenblatt. In the interview, they discuss Julia’s new novel Cascade, which includes information about sharks and other marine life that Adam helped to verify. Julia explains how factual accuracy helped to solidify and drive both the plot of Cascade and some of its emotional power. Adam talks about what the collaborative process was like for him and argues that science is more creative than people think.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about fact-checking in fiction. They also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of first-person present tense in fiction.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Julia talks about the difference between writing novels and writing for TV.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Working Overtime: Collaborating Through Conflict
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and Isaac Butler examine a listener’s question about tackling the stickiest aspects of collaborating on a creative project. Both hosts have had their fair share of nightmare scenarios, but they agree that some of the best practices for collaborating involve having frank conversations before a project begins.
Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Working Overtime: Collaborating Through Conflict
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and Isaac Butler examine a listener’s question about tackling the stickiest aspects of collaborating on a creative project. Both hosts have had their fair share of nightmare scenarios, but they agree that some of the best practices for collaborating involve having frank conversations before a project begins.
Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews. -
A Clarinetist Finds His Flow State
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic. In the interview, Anthony describes his weekly routine, which includes practicing lots of different pieces at any given time, rehearsing, and playing multiple shows per week. He also talks about his meditation practice, his ability to play and be swept away by the music at the same time, and his Grammy-nominated album American Stories.
After the interview, Isaac and co-host Ronald Young Jr. discuss the different preparation timelines of musicians and actors.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anthony talks about meeting some of his musical heroes.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How to Be Both a Critic and a Creator
This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Linda Holmes, host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and author of two novels: Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo. In the interview, Linda explains how she started her career practicing law in Minnesota before she pivoted to TV criticism. She also talks about how NPR came to take pop culture seriously, how her work as a critic informs her writing (and vice versa), and how she has gotten much better at coming up with titles for her novels.
After the interview, Ronald and co-host Isaac Butler talk about how they handle criticism of their work.
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Linda discusses her favorite TV show and one of her main philosophies when it comes to pop culture criticism.
Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Working Overtime: Creator Mode vs. Editor Mode
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and Isaac Butler take on listener Bob’s question about how to shift your brain from editor mode to creator mode. Creating new work can be invigorating, but then having to go back and self-edit your creations can zap your creative drive. Ronald and Isaac speak about their experiences with stepping away from work and exploring different kinds of art to reinspire themselves after a taxing editing process.
Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Host chat excessive
The interview are great, but the chat between the hosts becomes tedious and overpowers the guests. I really don’t think the interviews require explication; they speak for themselves.
Sell sell sell
All commercials. Amazing abuse of one’s time.
Missing Old Format
I appreciate interviews with creative people, but I am really missing the old format of the show. I really liked hearing from individuals in a wide range of jobs that I didn’t even know existed or couldn’t imagine how they did their work. I think the old format had both a depth and breadth that the newer episodes are missing. I also wish there was less emphasis on the hosts’ reflections - there are a million other podcasts that I could listen to for conversations between hosts, but I came to working for superb interviews.